Perpignan have turned to a familiar face to solve their fly-half crisis, with former Wallaby Manny Edmonds signing a three-month deal to cover for the injured Nicolas Laharrague.

Edmonds, 33, had originally planned to retire from playing at the end of last season, having completed a stint with Bayonne, accepting a role coaching the Perpignan backs. He previously spent five years playing in blood and gold between 2002 and 2007.

Flanker Jono Jenkins has accepted a one-year rookie deal with the Western Force. Jenkins was unfortunate to break his leg a minute into his Force debut last season but having returned to action in the Shute Shield with Sydney University, he now has another bite at Super Rugby.

"I was really disappointed about getting injured but I've been given another opportunity and I can't wait to get over there," Jenkins said. "You only get one chance at some things and I would have been really disappointed if my contribution to the Force was just that minute against the Reds. I'm really happy to get another shot at Super Rugby and it is something I know I'll have to grab with both hands and run with it."

The Scarlets have re-signed 26-year-old forward Gavin Quinnell from Italian side Viadana.

Quinnell, son of legendary Wales flanker Derek and brother of internationals Scott and Craig, can play in the back-row or second-row. He left the Scarlets in 2006 to join Worcester in the Premiership, before two seasons in the Italian Super 10.

"It's great to have him back, Gavin is an established impact player and will bring something different to our forward play, his size and physicality and attitude to rugby is something that we can use and we know he's a committed Scarlet," head coach Nigel Davies said. "He's a big ball carrier, strong and powerful and will be a very physical presence on the pitch which will be good for us next season."

Connacht have bolstered their backline for the forthcoming Magners League season with the signing of Ulster scrum-half Cillian Willis. The 25-year-old has also represented Leinster and Ireland at Under-19 and Under-21 levels.

Former Ospreys scrum-half Liam Davis, 24, has returned to France with Pro D2 side Dax. Davies has previously spent time in the Top 14 with Brive.

Rugby across Central America and the Caribbean will break new ground this weekend when Rugby Sevens will feature in the Central America and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO) Games for the first time.

The two-day competition featuring eight men's teams will kick-off on July 24 in Georgetown, Guyana. The hosts, Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago are hot favourites to contest the gold medal, while the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Mexico and Costa Rica will also be in the running for medals in what promises to be an extremely competitive event.